A surprise hit film can still accelerate an actor’s career.

In December 2023, Sydney Sweeney starred alongside Glen Powell Everyone but youthe romantic comedy from Sony Pictures, which was a huge box office success, grossing $220 million on a budget of $25 million. Sweeney’s fee for the film was $2 million.

Less than a year later, in October, Sweeney raked in $7.5 million as the lead actor The housemaida Lionsgate thriller also starring Amanda Seyfried and directed by Paul Feig, multiple sources report The Hollywood Reporter.

It’s a notable jump that doesn’t happen all that often in modern Hollywood, where big hits tend to come from franchise pieces and salary jumps, except for top actors, come in pre-negotiated increments. But Sweeney has become one of the most sought-after actresses and is capitalizing on it by producing a series of clever films, including a boxing biopic and a Hollywood drama about the affair between Kim Novak and Sammy Davis Jr.

Part of the jump in fees is due to the huge back-end profits Sweeney made Everyone but youwhich is said to be in the millions. According to sources, she also earned an executive producer fee of $250,000.

The actress was also instrumental in the making of the film. According to a source, Sweeney agreed to initially film a supporting role Madam WebPart of Sony’s Spider-Man film universe, to help you Everyone but you Get the green light. “She wanted to show them that she was a team player,” says a Sony Pictures source.

Although the much-maligned one Madam Web Despite being bombed, Sweeney still did well and earned $750,000 from this picture.

Before shooting Everyone but you And Madam Web she shot realitya biopic in which she played whistleblower Reality Winner. It was an indie drama that was picked up by HBO and released on Max a little over half a year before the groundbreaking romantic comedy. According to insiders, Sweeney received $65,000 for this.

And for Immaculatea horror film released by Neon in March, she received $250,000, even though she was also a producer on the thriller.

Sweeney, thanks to them Housemaid Deal, is now one of the highest paid actresses of her generation. She seems to be the benchmark euphoria Co-star Zendaya, who reportedly earned $10 million for starring in and producing the tennis drama challenger.

This story first appeared in the Oct. 30 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.